The Week.

not very adroit in going through the stiff and formal ceremoma imposed upon them , and their pardonable awkwardness Ava probably by no means lessened by the peals of laughter which reminded them at every step that they lucked the courtly grace of a Gold Stick in AVaiting . " It was some time , " we are told , "before the equanimity of the House was restored and the ordinary business was proceeded with . "—Mr . Brantley- Moore postnoned bis motion on the subject of tbe Brazilian disputeand

, the bill authorising the use of the ballot at municipal elections was thrown out by a considerable majority , on the second reading . On Wednesday there was a brisk fight on the third reading of Mr . Hadfield ' s Qualification for Offices Bill . The bill was opposed by Mr . Newdegate with all the old arguments . The discussion , however , brought the Chancellor of the Exchequer to his feet , and in a brief speech he warmly defended the

measure . On a division the third reading was carried by a majority of 3 , the numbers being—for the third reading , l 7 o ; against it , 172 . — -Mr . Locke King ' s bill for providing an alphabetical index to the register of voters , passed through committee after two divisions . —On the motion that the House should go into committee on Mr . M'Mahon's Irish Salmon Fisheries Bill , Lord Fermoy moved that it be referred to a select committee . The debate upon tbe bill lasted until a quarter to six , when it

was brought to a close by tbe standing orders . It will , however , be resumed on Wednesday , the 25 th March . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —In the week that ended on Saturday , March 2 nd , the number of deaths registered in London was 1440 . The average number in the corresponding weeks of ton years ( 1853-62 ) is , with a correction for increase of population , 1418 . The actual number is more than the estimated number by 22 . Eight nonagenarians died in the weekthe

, eldest of whom was a widow , aged 98 years . With the exception of the Bishops of Peterborough , St . David ' s , Limerick , and Killaloe , and the Bishop elect ( if we remember rightly Dr . Ellieott has not yet been consecrated ) of Gloucester and Bristol , the English and Irish Episcopate have , Avith several colonial prelates , sigued an address to tbe Bishop of Natal , asking him "to consider once * more , with the most serious attention , whether he can , Avithout harm to his own conscience , retain his

position when he can no longer discharge its duties or use the formularies to which he has subscribed . " Added to this very broad hint that he should lay aside his crozier , is a devout expression of hope that the heterodox prelate may "be restored to a state of belief in which he may be able with a clear conscience again to discharge the duties of our sacred office ; a result which , from regard to his highest interests , they should welcome with the most unfeigned satisfaction . " It appears

from statements made at the meeting of the Central Belief Committee that in some parts of the cotton districts numbers of the unemployed operatives are being absorbed in other occupations ; that "there has been an obvious tendency to migration to neighbouring counties in search of labour ; " and that projects of emigration have become general . Mr . Farnall ' s weekly report shows a further decrease of close upon 2000 in the number of persons in receipt of parochial relief in the

suffering unions . A meeting of Lancashire operatives was held on Saturday night at Ashton . They agreed to memoralise the Government for aid to enable them to emigrate to the colonies . A formal request has been made to the Mansion House Committee to render assistance to families in the cotton districts who desire to emigrate to Queensland . The subject was brought before the committee on Fridaybut there appeared to be a

, general opinion against making grants for such an object at the present moment . It Avas , however , arranged that the matter should be further discussed at the next meeting of the committee . ' Mr . Tremenbeere , who was some time ago appointed a commissioner to inquire into the condition of what we may call the operative bakers of the United Kingdom , has presented a report to Sir George Grey , in which he recommends that no

youth under 18 years of age shall be employed in any bakehouse later than nine in the evening or earlier than five iu the morning . He further suggests the adoption of measures for the inspection and sanitory regulation of bakehouses . —The estimates for the revenue departments for 1863-64 show a decrease upon the amount voted last year of £ 32 , 154 . The army and navy estimates are £ 2 , 058 , 586 below those of 1862-63 ; so that

we have already a promised reduction of £ 2 , 200 , 540 in tha public expenditure . The City Eeception Committee were occupied , on Wednesday , for some time in making the necessary arrangements for Saturday . One part of their business was to make choice of

the diamond necklace and ear-rings which are to be presented by the City to tbe Princess Alexandra . Several jewellers were iu attendance , but eventually a necklace and ear-rings shown by Messrs . Garrard and Sons , of the Haymarket , were chosen , With respect to the falling back of the civic procession afc Temple Bar , Sir Richard Mayne insists that ifc shall take place within the City , and suggests that the carriages shall turn up Chancery-lane . The committee , however , determined that on

reaching Temple Bar the carriages shall turn back , so that the Royal carriages will pass them , and for the time thc-e will be a double line of vehicles in the street . The Volunteer arrangements for Saturday ( this day ) , have been issued from the War Office . In Hyde Park all those who have obtained pai-uiission to be present are to be in their places by two o'clock . The volunteer display will be none of the least attractive of the day's spectacles . Whether in the closer regions of the Cityor

, tbe open space of Hyde Park , they will , no doubt , present a very imposing appearance . A curious libel case came before Mr . Alderman Phillips , at the Guildhall , on Wednesday . Mr . Job Pickles Whitley , proprietor of tbe Weekly Review , and Mr . Peter Bayne , the editor and part proprietor of that newspaper , were charged with having grossly libelled Dr . Keneally , the author of a new pantomine . The libel was contained in a review of that workwhich was very strongly condemnedand

, , severe strictures pasfed upon its author . It was these personal strictures which formed the weight of the charge . For tbe defence it was contended that nothing was said of the book or its author more than they deserved . The magistrate , however , committed the defendants for trial , taken their own recognisances to appear . The Vice Chancellor of Oxford , acting under the advice of bis assessor , has giving bis judgment that

his Court has no jurisdiction in cases of heresy , ancl he therefore refuses to entertain tbe charges brought by Dr . Pusey and others against Professor Jewett . On the part of the promoters of . jthe suit notice was given of appeal . —•—Dr . Campbell ' s action for libel against the Saturday Review has resulted in a verdict against our contemporary—damages £ 50 . In summing iip , the Lord Chief Justice ascled the jury to say whether , in their opinion , the defendant believed what he wrote , ancl whether what be did was done honestly and in good faith : for , if the

case for the defence rested on that , he would from its importance leave tbe point for the consideration of the Court above . The Jury were of opinion that the writer of the article did believe that the imputations contained in it Avere well founded , and it remains to be seen whether the case will be carried further . ——Mr . Sergeant Glover applied to Mr . Justice Wightman , at Chambers , on Thursday , to have his action against M . de Persigny and others proceeded with at once in this country .

It Avill be remembered that the learned gentlemen some time ago came into court with a claim for a large amount for writing articles in the interest of the French government . He alleged that M . de Persigny , M . Billault , and other official personages in France had engaged him to do this Avork , but that tbey subsequently repudiated all liability in connection with the matter . A commission was appointed to take evidence in Parisand

, the learned Serjeant states in an affidavit that he went to the French capital on this business , but soon found that the coinmission had not arrived , and that there was no prospect of auy progress being made with the suit . He further asserts that he was arrested at his hotel on " a flimsy pretext , " and subjected to great violence . The solicitor for the defendants applied for time to prepare a reply to this

affidavit , and the case was adjourned until Monday , when , after some discussion , the application was dismissed .- In tbe Central Criminal Court , the trial of the brothers Brook for the murder of a policeman at Acton has been deferred until the next sessions . Caroline Bum , a child of fifteen years of age , was tried for the murder of her illegitimate infant . The case was of the most painful character . The juryhowever

, , acquitted her of the capital charge , and found ber guilty of concealment of birth , at the same time recommending ber to mercv . Sentence Avas deferred . In the New Court , James Hagan , who Avas charged with the manslaughter of bis wife by strangling her , was found guilty . In his case , too , sentence was deferred . David Johnson was found guilty of setting fire to a stack of hay at Hampstead . He was sentenced to eighteen months

imprisonment . A few days ago the suspicious death of a Woman named Day , at Brighton , Avho was about to be married to a painter named Sfcurt , and who died on the night of Sunday week , after having Avalked out Avith him , and eaten a mince pie which